Vehicle running-gear.



No. 788,108. EATENTED APE. 25, 1805.

G. E. JONES. VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11,1904.

235g @Hoz'ncj v No. 788, l O8.

Patented April 25, 1905.

UNiTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.,

(''EORGE H ILL JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGIIOR TO .IONES-CORISIN AUOMOBILE COMPANY, OF PI-IILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,108, dated April 25, 1905. Application. tile August ll, 1904. Serial No. 220,304.

To /l'm/n, if m//r/y/ concer/L:

Be it known that I, (Vuonen HILL JoNns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Running-Gears, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to runninggear IO frames for motor-propelled vehicles,the object being to provide a framework which shall be simple in construction and at the same time possess sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand the uses to which this type of ap- I5 paratus is put.

A further object of this invention is to provide a suitable support for the speed-gear case and its connected mechanism without adding to the number of parts, thus increasing 2O the weight and cost of construction.

lt is very desirable and, in fact, essential in the construction of motor-propelled vehicles that all the parts in connection therewith be made as simple as possible and with as little material as is consistent with the necessary strength. As the power-transmitting mechanism must be carried by the running-gear, it is important that suit-able means be provided to hold this portion of the mechanism securely and rigidly in place.

In this device I have provided a housing' or case for the speed-gear, which casing is held by suitable fastening' to the running-gear frame by means of extending arms from said case, which arms are so arranged as to form braces, and so preserve the rigidity of the entire structure. It is thus seen that this case serves a twofold purpose. It provides a housing for the speed-gear mechanism and at 40 the same time forms avery eflicient brace for the running-gear frames. This results in a substantial reduction in the number of parts and consequent reduction of weight without the loss of rigidity.

)Iy running-gear frame as designed consists of two parallel side reaches having one or more transverse trusses. At the point where these trusses join the side reaches provide a light web, forminga bracket on either side of these trusses. The construction of the truss itself is peculiar to this invention, and eonsist'sofjoining together a number of pieces of sheet metal to form a brace which is deeper in the middle than on the ends, and so provides a very rigid connection between the reaches. The running-gear frame is supported by these trusses and forms of itself an additional truss or brace between the several parts, as already explained.

ReferringI now to the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure l is a plan view of a running-gear frame embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the relative position of the trusses and speedgear case. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of one ofthe trusses, showing the starting-handle.

At A and A are shown two side reaches, and at B are shown the transverse trusses connecting these reaches.

At O and O are horizontal brackets or webs abutting against said reaches and trusses and forming a brace, and at l) and D' are shown similar vertical brackets which act as reinforcements and add materially to the rigidity of the structure.

At E is shown a speed-gear and casing, and at E are 4shown extending arms from this Y easing, which act as supports and also as braces between the adjacent trusses B to preserve the rigidity of the structure.

At F and F are shown sprockot-hangers, and at G and (ur/ are shown conical-shaped casing forming projecting arms which connect rigidly the gear-case E and sprockethangers F and F together, thus combining connections with the gearcase, sprockethangers, and side reaches or frame, thereby keeping the shaft in perfect alinement.

At H is shown a motor, which may be of any desired construction. In this illustration I have shown a two-cylindergas-engine, which is supported by cross-braces between the reaches and which is preferably located at the forward end of the running-gear frame.

The speed-gear mechanism, with its series of braces and supports, is preferably located at or near the middle of the running-gear frame shown in the drawings.

It is thus seen that the combination as presented, consisting of side reaches connected by cross braces or trusses, with reinforcing webs or brackets at the joints, together with the intermediate brace provided by the gearcase and projecting arms, all securely fastened together,forms a complete and rigid structure of a small number of parts and which is very substantial and yet as light as is consistent with the requirements of the portion of the vehicle.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a vehicle running-gear frame,the combination with side reaches, of a plurality of transverse trusses, horizontal brackets abutting against said reaches and trusses, a speedgear case carried by and rigidly attached to two adjacent transverse trusses, a pair of sprocket-hangers rigidly attached to said side reaches, a pair of projecting conical casings from said speed-case forming a bearing for a sprocket-shaft and being rigidly fastened to said speed-case and sprocket-hangers, substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle running-gear frame, the cornbination with side reaches of a plurality of transverse trusses, horizontal brackets abutting against said reaches and trusses, a speedgear case carried by and rigidly attached to two adjacent transverse trusses by means of extending arms forming a series of braces to preserve the rigidity of the structure, a pair of sprocket-hangers rigidly attached to said reaches, a pair of projecting conical casings from said speed-case forming a bearing for a sprocket-shaft and being rigidly fastened to said speed-case and sprocket-hangers, substantially as described.

3. In a vehicle running-gear frame, the combination with side reaches of a plurality of transverse trusses, horizontal webs disposed at right angles on opposite sides of said trusses at the point where said trusses are joined to said reaches, a speed-gear case carried by and rigidly attached to two adjacent transverse trusses, a pair of sprocket-hangers rigidly attached to said side reaches, a pair of projecting conical casings from said speed-case forming a` bearing for a sprocket-shaft and being rigidly fastened to'said speed-case and sprocket-hangers, substantially as described.

4:. .Inavehicle running-gearfrarne,thecombination with" side reaches of a plurality of transverse trusses, horizontal webs disposed at right angles on opposite sides of said trusses at the point Where said trusses are joined to said reaches, vertical webs disposed at right angles on opposite sides of said trusses at the point where said trusses are joined to said reaches, a speed-gear case carried by and rig'- idly attached to two adjacent transverse trusses, a pair of sprocket-hangers rigidly attached to said side reaches, a pair of projecting conical casings from said speed-case forming a bearing for a .sprocket-shaft and being rigidly fastened to said speed-case and sprocket-hangers, substantially as described.

5. In a vehicle running-gear frame, the combination with side reaches of a plurality of transverse trusses formed from sheet-metal members rigidly joined together and forming a cross-brace between said reaches and also forming a support for a speed-gear case, horizontal brackets abutting against said reaches and trusses, a speed-gear case carried by and rigidly attached to two adjacent transverse trusses, a pair of sprocket-hangers rigidly attached to said side reaches, a pair of projecting conical casings from said speed-case forming a bearing for a sprocket-shaft and being rigidly fastened to said speed-case and sprocket-hangers, substantially as described.`

Signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, this 13th day of July, A. D. 1904.

GEORGE HILL JGNES.

Vitnesses:

FRANK J ONES, C. RIDGWAY ADAMsoN. 

